William w



W. W. WATTERS.

INTERCHANGEABLE INITIAL PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1919.

1 ,323, 3396. Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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ATTORNEY door. The section in this figure is taken on WILLIAM W. WATTEBS, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

INTERCHANI'GEABLE INITIAL-PLATE.

Specification of Lettersratent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed March 12, 1919. Serial No. 282,127.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. WA'I'I'ERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Rochelle, Westchester county, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Initial Plates of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in interchangeable plates and its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive ornamental device which may be attached to automobiles or other structures. Another object is to construct such a device with a frame and with interchangeable letter or symbol members secured therein. Another object is to provide a simple arrangement for holding such members in the frame. A still further object is to provide a novel arrangement for aflixing such devices and others to desired structures.

These and other objectsof the invention will appear in the following specification, in which I will describe the same and will then point out the'novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an initial plate which is made according to and embodies this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View of the device of Fig. 1 together with the section of a part of a door of an automobile and a holding device for aflixing the initial plate to the the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of an-enlarged scale of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of my improved initial plate.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the letter or symbol elements.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of an initial plate similar to that shown in the preceding figures together with a part of a structure to which it is aflixed.

Fig. 7 is a view' corresponding with Fig. 6 showing the initial plate aflixed in another manner. a

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a modified form of device which also embodies this invention. In this case the frame isshown circularin form. I

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 8.

F1g. 10 is a front elevation of another form of my invention with a frame of different shape.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

20 designates an open frame which on at least two of its opposite sides is provided with lnturned flanges 21 at or near thefront thereof. This frame is arranged to hold a plurality of members 22 which contact with the flanges and which together fill the space within the frame. These are of equal size so that they are interchangeable and at least one of them has a letter member or other symbol or character thereon. These members are also of equal thickness so that when in place'their rear surfaces lie in the same plane. If desired the parts of these members which come in contact with the flanges may be out back as at 23 so as to make the front surfaces of the members flush with the outer face of the frame.

Back of these members is a plate 30 which closely fits the frame, near opposite edges of which are flanged screws 31 threaded into the plate. The screw flanges are designated by 32. These are preferably thin and as shown in Fig. 4 are cut away at 33 so that when turned 180 degrees from the positions shown, they will be in alinement with the edges of the plate and clear the frame. Undercut grooves 24 are provided in the frame near these screws into which the screw flanges may be turned to look all of the parts together. -'By turning the screws in the direction to move them outwardly a wedging pressure may be brought to bear upon the members 22.

4:0 is a screw afiixed tothe plate near the center thereof and extending rearwardly. A holding member 41 is threaded onto this screw so that its position thereonis adjustable. This member comprises a plurality of bowed leaf springs 42 the free ends of which are bent in toward the screw 40 and the rear ends of which, are preferably integrally united to form shoulders 43.

In Figs. 2 and 3, 44 designates a part of an automobile door whicltis iistia 1y constructed of metal. A hole 45 is drilled through this part and the device which has been described is forced through it after the holding member 41 has been adjusted to the proper position on the screw 40. When thus positioned the leaf springs will be forced together to a sufficient extent to permit the holding device 41 to pass through the hole 45 after which the resiliency of the parts 42 will cause them to spring outwardly to bring the shoulders 43 ilrcontact with the inner surface of the member 44 at the hole 45. This will result in effectively securing the device to the part 44.

In Fig. 6 the initial plate is secured to a member which has a sheet metal face 44 with a hole 45 therein as before but which in this case has a backing 46 of wood. I

find that a convenient way of fastening my initial plates to a structure of this kind, is to secure to the plate a screw 47 the end of which is pointed as shown at 48 and which is split as at 49. The parts of this screw are separated as shown, and hardened sov thatthey will have a tendency to assume this separated position.

In applying this device the pointed end of the screw is inserted in the hole 45 and the screw driven into a hole in the wooden portion 46 by means of a hammer or other convenient implement. The ends of the screw toward this portion will spread apart and become firmly embedded in the wood so as to secure the initial plate to the structure. V

In Fig. 7 the initial plate is shown afiixed to the member 44 by means of a layer of cement 50.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the frame 20 and its flange 21 are circular in form. In order that the letter or symbol elements fit within a frame of this shape the middle one 25 will be of a different shape than those at its sides which are designated by 26 and 27. Of course when but two of these members are used. they will be of similar shape; that is semi-circular. In any case the removable members are together right size and shape to fill the frame 20". It is obvious that this device may be affixed to a structure in the same manner as that described in connection with the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1-5.

Fig. 10 is. an illustration of a frame designated at 20 of another form and in this case the letter or symbol, elements :35", 26 and 27- a re of the proper form and size to together fill the frame 20-.

it is my purpose to supply dealers in these devices with a plurality of letter or symbol members having thereon the different letters of the alphabet. With these in stock a customer may be supplied quickly with a completed device having thereon his own init s and if desired this combination of initials may be changed at will. i hare illustrated and described several forms of construction to show that i do not limit myself to any specific form or construction, and in fact I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is l. A device of the character described comprising a relatively thin open frame having an inturned flange near the front thereof and provided with an undercut groove in rear of said flange, a plurality of selected members having shoulders at opposite edges thereof together filling the frame and contacting with the underside and inner edges of the flange with the front faces of said members flush with the front of the frame, a plate in the frame back of said members and rotatably adjustable fastening means mounted on said back plate and having an eccentric flanged portion engageable in the undercut groove in the frame upon the rotation of said means to thereby secure said back plate in the frame.

2. A device of the character described comprising a relatively thin open frame having an inturned flange near the front thereof and provided on opposite sides with undercut grooves in rear of such flange, a plurality of selected members together fill ing the frame and contacting with the flange, a plate in the frame back of said members, and fastening means mounted on said plate and embodying a screw threaded in the back plate and having an eccentric flange adapted upon the turning of said screw to engage in an undercut groove. in the frame to thereby exert an outward pressure upon the plate.

3. A deviceof the character described comprising a relatively thin open frame having an inturned flange near the front thereof and provided with an undercut groove in rear of said flange, a plurality of selected members having shoulders at opposite edges thereof together filling the frame and contacting with the under side and inner edges of the flange. with the front faces flush with the front of the frame, a plate in the frame back of said members, rotata bly adjustable fastening mcanscomprising screws threaded into said back nlate and having flat eccentric flanges engageable in the undercut groove in the frame upon the rotation of said screws to thereby secure said back plate in the frame and to exert an outward pressure on the plate, and a fastening member on the back the back plate for supporting the device in position h 'eof, a pinmeans for securing said back to the frame to silient leaves adapted to be forced through hold all of said parts together, a threaded an orifice and to expand to prevent the withmember extending 'rearwardly from said drawal of the threaded member. 10 plate, and a resilient fastener having a In witness whereof I have hereunto set my threaded portion engaging said threaded hand this 10 day of March, 1919.

member and adjustable thereon, said fasr' tener comprising a plurality of bowed re- WILLIAM W. WATTERS. 

